Kaul’s last chance at state
By CRAIG HAUPERT, Staff Writer chaupert@minotdailynews.com
POSTED: May 16, 2008
WASHBURN — For Washburn-Wilton-Center-Stanton senior Blake Kaul, today’s Region 8 Tournament represents one last attempt at qualifying for the Class B state baseball tournament. It’s also a chance for redemption for W-W-C-S, which has lost to Steele-Dawson in each of the past two region tournament championship games.
“I definitely want to make the most out of this one,” Kaul said. “We really have to focus on hitting — get that going right away instead of waiting until the third inning or later.”
Kaul and No. 2 W-W-C-S (13-7, 9-3 Region 7) begin the tournament with a first-round game against No. 3 Central Prairie at 5 p.m. in Mandan. If W-W-C-S wins it will play in the second round the winner of a game between No. 1 Steele-Dawson and No. 4 Shiloh Christian. Washburn-W-C-S is 3-1 against Central Prairie, 2-2 against Steele-Dawson and 4-0 versus Shiloh Christian.
To advance, W-W-C-S will have to break out of a recent hitting slump, which began in early May.
“My biggest concern right now is hitting,” W-W-S-C head coach Kip Erickson said. “We’ve been struggling. We’ve had guys in position, but we just haven’t been able to hit them in.”
Kaul added his insight on the slump.
“We’ve been too aggressive at the plate it seems like,” Kaul said. “Swinging at pretty much anything because we want to drive it hard. We just need to relax more. See the ball, hit the ball.”
Erickson said he will pitch Kaul in the opener. Kaul is the team’s ace and is 4-1 with an ERA of 3.25.
“I’m going to throw him right away because I can’t afford to take a loss,” Erickson said. “He’s going to be my leader. He’s going to have to take charge as a pitcher and communicate with these younger kids.”
Just behind Kaul is junior Cole Bender (3-1, 3.75 ERA) and junior Charlie Rutterath (2-1, 3.75 ERA).
Kaul bats in the two spot and catches when he’s not pitching. He boasts a .733 average (33-for-45). Sophomore Mitch Wachendorf is batting .604 (26-for-43) and Bender is batting .547 (23-for-42).
The tournament continues Saturday, Monday and, if necessary, Tuesday.
